Centrifugal brake for fire-escapes.



I w. TUPPER. CENTRIFUGAL BRAKII FOR FIRE ESCAPES. APPLICATION FILED API?. I9, 1915.

1,174,300. Patented Maf. 7,1916.

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WILLIAM TUPPER, 'O'.E BISI-IOPS CROSSING, QUEBEC, CANADA.

CNTRIFUGAL BRAKE yFOR FIRE-ESCAIBES.

` Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Man *7, 191e.

Application nieu A prii 19, 19115. serial No. 22,351.

To aZZ'whom t may 'concern Be it known that I, 'WILLIAM Tueren, a subject o'f the King of Great Britain, and resident of Bishops Crossing, in the Province of Quebec,'l)ominion of Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Centrifugal Brakesrfor Fire-Escapes, of which the following is the speciication.'

This Vinvention relates to improvements in re escapes and the objects of the invention arey to render the device compact in construction thereby occupying a minimum of space and capable of being packed in a hand vgrip so adapting it for travelers use, to facilitate in hanging the fire escape to a windo-w sill or like support, to govern the speed of descent and generally to adapt the several parts to better perform the functions required of them,and it consists essentially of the improved construction particularly kdescribed and set forth in the following specifcation and accompanyingdrawings forming part of the same.

VvIn the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspectiveV view of the improved lire escape as seen when hung from a window frame. Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation of the improved fire escape. Fig. 3 is a plan view of the speed governing mechanism. Fig. 4 is a plan view of the internal pinionV gearing. Fig. 5 is a perspective view of the clutch jaws formed integral with one of the pinion wheels.

Like characters of reference refer to like parts in the several drawings.

Referring to the drawings, A represents a window frame and B the improved lire escape hung from the sill thereof. The escape B comprises a casing preferably made in three sections 10. 11 and 12 adapted to be secured in assembled position bv the set screw 13 or the like and having orifices 14,

15 and 16 through the centers thereof, in the first and last of which orifices the spindle 17 is rotatably mounted. This spindle is adapted to be manually operated and to this end is provided with a hinged lever 18 rigidly mounted on one end thereof.

Rigidly mounted on the spindle 17 is a drum 19 having its inner face recessed at 20 and provided on diametricallv opposite sides of the spindle with orifices 21 in which the cylindrical spring controlled plugs 22 are slidably mounted, the said drum being connected on its outer periphery with the inner end vof the `steeltape 23 coiled therearound. i

Cooperating with the cylindrical plugs 22 are conc'entrica-'lly located clutch jaws '24 formed integral withV 'the face of the pinion wheel 26 rotatably mounted on 'the cylin- 17, and adapted to mesh with the 'pinion wheel 26 rotatably mountedy on .the cylindrical projection27 formed integral with the central section 'l1 ofthe casing'. i y

Meshi-ngwith Athe pinion wheel 26 is a second pinion wheel 28 rotatably mounted on the spindle 17 and formed with an integral squared boss 29 on which the governing m'echanlsm C 1s adapted to be carried. This governing mechanism comprises alever 30 of substantially Z-shape' provided with ay squaredorifice y31 through 'the center thereof adapted to engage with the 'squared f boss 29 of the pinion wheel 28, the ends of the offset arms ofv the. said llever terminating in curved jaws 32, the object of 'whichA will. be made Iclear hereafter.

Pivota'lly mountedy on the lever 3'0 'intermediate of their lengths are a pair of levers 33, the shorter arms of which are formed with curved jaws 34, the longer arms being offset at substantially right angles and terminating in suitable balance weights 35. The outward mo-tion or action of the balance weights 35 is controlled by the springs 36 connected to they levers 33 and 30 respectively.

Coperating with the jaws. 32 and 34 are curved strips 37 of suitable resilient material, having their ends formed with cylindrical projections 38 and 39 designed to er1- gage and be embraced by thel curved jaws 32 and'34, the outer periphery of the said members being suitably covered with leather or like material. The outer end of the tape 23 is provided with an adjustable body strap 45. The sections 10 and 12 of the casing are provided with integral brackets 40 and 41 to which one end of the suspending bridley 42 is attached, the other end being attached to a suitable hook 43 adapted to take around the window sill or like object to which the fire escape is to be hung. On that side of the casing diametrically opposite the bridle the sections 11 and 12 are provided with a rectangular orifice 44 through which the tape 23 is designed to pass.

When in use the escape A is overhung from a window, the hook 43 loting secured to llt).

i descent.

a suitable support, the body strap being adjusted around the wearer and the descent made under gravity. Due to the uncoiling of the tape 23 the drum 19 is rotated thereby transmitting motion through the medium of y the cylindrical plugs 22 engaging the clutch jaws 24 to the pinion wheel 25 which meshes with the pinion wheel 26 and in turn rotates the intermeshing pinion wheel 28 so operatingr the speed governing mechanism C. Should the speed of the descent exceed a predetermined limit the levers 83 are, due to the centrifugal force of the balance weights 85, actuated, causing the curved strips 37 to be expanded thereby engaging the leathered outer face with the inner periphery of the section 10, so retarding the After the descent has been made the tape 23 is recoiled by means of the manually operated lever 18 on the drum 19 prior to a second descent being made. It should be clearly noted that during this operation the pinio-n wheel 25 is stationary since the clutch jaws 24 are formed with Cam surfaces to enable the spring controlled plugs 22 to be freed therefrom so that the governing mechanism is only called into play during descent thereby permitting of the tape 23 being recoiled on the drum 19 as rapidly as desired.

Although in the embodiment illustrated I `have shown one tape 23 it will be understood that a plurality of such tapes may be mounted on the drum 19 if such be found desirable.

Y widely different embodiments or" my invention, within the scope of the claim, constructed without departing from the spirit or scope thereof, it is intended that all matter contained in the accompanying specification and drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative andnot in a limiting sense.

What I claim as my invention is:

In a lire escape, a speed controlling mechanism comprising a substantially ZI-shaped lever operatively mounted intermediate oi its length and having curved jaws on its opposite ends, a pair of levers pivotally mounted intermediate of their length to the Z- shaped lever and having curved' jaws on the ends of the shorter arms, the ends of the longer arms being offset at substantially right angles and terminating in balance weights, resilient means for returning the last said levers to a normal position,v and strips of resilient material having cylindrical ends adapted to engage and be embraced bythe curved jaws of the said Z-shaped lever and the last said pair of levers, sub- 5 stantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

' WiLLmM Tueren.

Witnesses i ALEXINA JoNEAs, VIOLA KEES.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner 'of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

